by Heather Allen
Breathe out your pain and keep breathing out
Breathe in to the echo of the dawn of the world
One breath, then another, and on to another
With the whole world breathing along with you
As the world has breathed since the dawn of time
And your time a million moments in a single breath
It comes to this – air in, air out
Air charging blood and life the flood
That flows, that glows with a vital heat
With each heartbeat, and beating ever on
And when the breath stops, still the world goes on
But every breath goes on forever
Every moment capturing an age
As a bright drop of rain that sparkles in the sun
Arrests you with a flash that slashes the veil of time
Now there’s just you here, standing, breathing
Riding the rim of the world as the stars turn with you
These treasures from times past sparkle at your feet
And the earth moves on regardless as you keep breathing out